Patient Safety & Outcomes

A new study commissioned by the American Hospital Association has found patients treated in hospital outpatient departments typically are sicker and require more medically complex treatment than those seen in independent physician offices.  The study, published in September and conducted…

Rural, independent hospitals are teaming up to keep from shutting down, joining large health systems or reducing services, NPR reported Sept. 2. What to know: 1. Since 2010, about 153 rural hospitals have closed or stopped offering inpatient services, according…

“First, do no harm” may be the most well-known adage in the medical profession, but it’s far more than an admonishment. Preventing harm by investing in patient safety is a smart business strategy that returns incalculable direct and indirect financial…

As healthcare evolves, so must the ways we define and maintain professional competency. Clinical innovation is accelerating, patient expectations are rising, and the need for adaptable, up-to-date providers is more critical than ever.  That’s why the National Board of Certification…

HHS launched a dashboard Aug. 27 to track organ transplants that skip patients next in line on transplant waiting lists.  The practice, called “allocation out of sequence,” is growing in frequency. In 2024, organ procurement organizations skipped waitlisted patients for…

Children’s hospitals and cancer centers are halting enrollment in pediatric brain tumor studies after the federal government paused funding, The New York Times reported Aug. 28.  The Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium includes more than a dozen children’s hospitals and academic…

Fewer than 50 people have undergone partial heart transplants, but the procedure is emerging as a potential solution to the increase in discarded organs and growing transplant waiting list, according to an Aug. 27 report from The New York Times. …

Ambiguity around medical equipment cleaning and handling is more than a compliance issue. It slows care, drives up costs and undermines staff confidence. During a recent discussion hosted by Becker’s Healthcare, Brooke Hossfeld, Infection Prevention Specialist at Sodexo Healthcare, and…

A higher body mass index in older adults is associated with lower 30-day mortality rates after major elective surgery, according to research published Aug. 26 in JAMA.  A BMI above 25 has been linked to worse postoperative outcomes in the…

Amid increased federal pressures, more than 20 hospitals and health systems have discontinued transgender care for patients younger than 19. Here’s what to know: 1. Since 2021, 27 states have enacted laws that prohibit access to puberty blockers, hormone therapy…